SafeGuard by Formation Data Systems

Formation Data Systems, Inc. launched Formation SafeGuard, adding more transformational cloud capabilities to the FormationOne Dynamic Storage Platform.

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With SafeGuard, enterprises can manage a complete set of global cloud replication, copy data management and data mobility functions from a FormationOne cloud storage domain into Amazon Web Services (AWS) without the need for external gateways or appliances.

As an extension of the core FormationOne architecture, SafeGuard provides secure, global, cloud enabled data protection for customers in a single integrated software-defined storage platform. These capabilities make the FormationOne platform more attractive to enterprises seeking an alternative to expensive, single-purpose storage arrays.

SafeGuard provides customers with new options for leveraging AWS cloud technologies for data mobility and DR. SafeGuard leverages AWS S3 resources as a replication target for DR, backup and archive datasets and also provides the ability to operate a FormationOne Cloud domain within AWS. Data can be migrated and synchronized both to and from AWS environments. The FormationOne platform also offers volume level encryption within all cloud domains to secure data both at rest and in transit.

Built as an extension of the FormationOne platform, SafeGuard enables customers to replicate data in near real-time between two FormationOne private cloud domains or between a FormationOne private Cloud domain and AWS. Safeguard leverages the TimeLineCDP (CDP) architecture, providing granular copy data management that can be replicated globally. Backups can be sent directly to AWS S3 to take advantage of their massive scale and geo-redundancy.

Likewise, older data sets can now be archived offsite with SafeGuard to AWS Glacier for low cost storage, available on-demand. All data protection management functions are managed via an user interface and available via REST API, allowing customers to automate data protection operations while simplifying administration.

“Cloud has completely disrupted the storage industry and in the face of massive data growth, customers are looking for cost-effective ways to manage, protect and recover more and more data on and off premise,” said Mark Lewis, CEO, Formation. “By providing secure, elastic connectivity into AWS, SafeGuard extends the core FormationOne software-defined architecture by adding secure, off site replication, backup and archive solutions delivered at cost points than are upto 90% lower than any of the legacy array point solutions.“

“Formation SafeGuard offers a very compelling set of new capabilities helping to address two monumental movements in data center storage,” said Scott Sinclair, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. “According to previously conducted ESG research, a majority of IT and storage professionals report that their organizations are committed to software-defined storage as a long-term strategy. Additionally, more than one-third of these respondents identified cloud storage services as an IT initiative expected to impact storage spending.”

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Available in November 2016 as a value added software upgrade to FormationOne deployments, Safeguard provides customers with these differentiated capabilities:

• Bi-directional replication and mobility into FormationOne and AWS Cloud domains

• Integrated de-duplication and compression that minimizes storage footprints and WAN bandwidth

• Configurable 256-bit encryption that provides security of data at rest and in transit

• Copy data management integrated with TimeLine CDP

• PriorityOne QoS support for production and test workloads at local or remote sites

• Dynamic tiering that utilizes SSD, HDD and Cloud IaaS resources on demand